ÐÔÊӽ紫ý

Minus senior setter McKenzie Micha (flu), the Lady Panthers were thrown out of their system, but somehow they managed to overcome a slow start against Coosa Christian (25-11, 25-11) and then outlast rival Cedar Bluff in five games 25-10, 25-15, 23-25, 23-25, 15-5 to earn the title.

The championship match was the first time the Lady Panthers (22-20) had been stretched to five games all season. Both matches stretched CarrollÐÔÊӽ紫ý vocal chords almost to their limits, but he’ll take it.

“We had to change a lot of things – a setter (Emory Reedy) whoÐÔÊӽ紫ý not set all year long, an outside hitter (Hayley Williams) whoÐÔÊӽ紫ý not been on the outside since the middle of the season. I knew it was going to be tough changing at a time like this, but the girls were very receptive to it. They did their job and did it well,â€� Carroll said. “I have to commend them for coming in here and fighting through.

“As soon as they got in the locker room, they called (Micha) and told her we were area champions. They knew they had a little more to play for this time.�

The Lady Panthers’ reward is a return trip to the North Super Regional at HuntsvilleÐÔÊӽ紫ý Von Braun Center. They will face Area 13 runner-up Phillips on Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Cedar Bluff (16-33) also advances to regional play. The Lady Tigers will battle Area 13 champion Brilliant on Friday at 6:45 p.m.

“Being (area) runner-up is a disadvantage with the way regionals are set up this year, but if you have to fight through adversity, then that makes it even sweeter when you come out on top,� Cedar Bluff coach Tiffany Rieger said. “They see we can battle. They see we can fight. We don’t have to give up, no matter what the score is. As long as we keep talking, keep communicating, keep being us, things will start going our way.�

Battle is a good description of MondayÐÔÊӽ紫ý championship match between Spring Garden and Cedar Bluff.

The Lady Tigers, who defeated Gaylesville 25-16, 25-10 and 25-16 in the semifinals, fought their way back from being down two games that were thoroughly dominated by Spring Garden.

Even being up 2-0, Carroll knew the Lady Tigers wouldn’t back down.

“I’ve been telling them for two months now this area championship match was going to be a fight. Cedar Bluff is not going to lay down,� Carroll said. “I told them after that first set. I told them after the second set. I have seen way too many teams go up 2-0 and then get beat 3-2.

“ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý hard to beat somebody four times (in a season). They figure out your patterns, your tendencies. They can expose that. Their record does not show how good they are. I think we both played at a very high level, and thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what you want because you know thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what you’re going to see later on.â€�

Rieger said she was proud her team didn’t quit after being down two games.

“They told me before they went out there (in game three) ‘We’re going to fight. We’re not going to lay down,’� Rieger said. “They got out there and battled for every point for two games in a row.�

In game three, the Lady Tigers became the aggressors, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. Cedar Bluff led 23-17 in the closing stages of the game before the Lady Panthers scored six straight points to tie the game at 23.

Cedar Bluff managed to finish off the game with the final two points, sending the match to a fourth game.

In the fourth game, the two teams battled almost evenly. The game was tied nine times and neither team held more than a three-point advantage.

“They upped their game in three and four, and we stayed the same. That was the difference,� Carroll said. “In set five, we were like ‘They’re not coming into our gym and taking this from us.’�

Like Carroll said, the Lady Panthers jumped out to a 9-2 advantage in game five and didn’t look back.

“I felt like game five was a repeat of game one. We made way too many errors,� Rieger said. “In a game to 15, you cannot give away free points. We were missing serves. We weren’t executing plays like we should, but as far as the effort, the hustle and the battle, you can’t ask for more than what they did. They very well could have laid down after being down 0-2.�

Reedy gathered 20 assists, 16 digs and five kills for the Lady Panthers in the championship match against Cedar Bluff. Williams managed 23 digs, two kills and two aces. Madison Sides collected 18 kills, 14 digs and three aces. Rachel Scott came away with 12 digs and five aces. Rachel Morris contributed nine digs, three aces, a block and a kill. Alex Robertson had six blocks, four aces and three kills. Abbie Porter finished with seven digs.

Jasmine Adams led the Lady Tigers with 10 kills, four digs and two blocks. Abby Storey added 19 digs and seven kills. Laura Anne Hughes had 15 assists, 11 digs and two kills. Marigrace Wilson contributed four kills, four digs and a block.

Paige Bryant posted 16 digs. Clair Bryant came away with 11 digs and a kill. Lexi Moten had five digs. Ashley Goodwin and Brooklyn Abernathy both finished with a kill apiece.

In Spring GardenÐÔÊӽ紫ý win over Coosa Christian, Reedy posted 16 assists, eight kills, eight digs and an ace. Sides contributed 10 kills, five digs and five aces. Robertson tallied six kills and six aces. Morris managed three kills, two blocks and an ace. Scott finished with four aces.

In Cedar BluffÐÔÊӽ紫ý win over Gaylesville, Hughes had 17 assists, eight digs and two kills. Storey contributed six kills, five digs and an assist. Adams added six kills, four digs and three blocks. Wilson managed five kills, two digs and an assist. Paige Bryant posted 17 digs. Clair Bryant came away with 10 digs and four kills. Colbi Whitlock tallied five digs. Moten and Abernathy both finished with three digs.

Lauren Hammett led Gaylesville with six kills, three digs and an assist. Brittney Partridge posted six digs and six assists. Dakota Bolenbaugh contributed three kills, three digs and an ace. Angie Calvert added three kills, a block and a dig. Heather Hamilton and Savannah Bryson finished with three digs and two digs respectively.